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2w ago

Pope Leo XIV to Undergo Surgery to Remove Lung Nodule

The Vatican says the operation will be at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital with an expected one-week in-hospital recovery, while doctors have not disclosed whether the lesion is cancerous.

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Pope Leo XIV celebrates a mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, Oct.8, 2026, for the annual opening of the academic year at pontifical universities, joining Rome's 22 pontifical institutions and numerous others worldwide. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
A mosaic of Pope Leo XIV is displayed inside a shop selling religious items near St. Peter's Square, in Rome, Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Overview

  • Pope Leo announced the finding to pilgrims after the Angelus on Oct. 11 and followed Vatican advice to schedule surgery in the first days of this week.
  • Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope was due to be admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday and that public audiences are cancelled through Oct. 20.
  • Officials have not released diagnostic details or confirmed malignancy, and doctors will remove the small, well‑localized nodule to obtain a definitive diagnosis.
  • Medical experts quoted in coverage describe removal of a small pulmonary nodule as generally low risk and say prognosis is favourable if a cancer is caught and excised early.
  • The pope is 71, reported to be otherwise healthy and active, and Vatican officials say the impact on his Nov. 6–17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru will depend on medical advice after recovery.